What’s New In January: All-Pink Pickleball Facility, Jungle-Themed Indoor Playground & More

Kick off the new year this January with exciting new openings, including a light festival, an all-pink pickleball facility in Serangoon, a jungle-themed indoor playground in Yishun and more!

New month, new finds! The year is already off to a great start with fresh openings popping up across the island. We’re eyeing our 2026 fitness goals at the new all-pink pickleball facility by Play! Pickle, and our weekend plans are pretty much sorted too, thanks to a lineup of fun new kid-friendly activities. Think the Jolly Jungle Safari indoor playground in Yishun, the return of the popular Light to Night Festival and more.

Click here for past What’s New Mama finds!

Disclaimer: These are external events not owned or managed by Sassy Mama. Always check with the organiser for changes or cancellations.

Mamba Kotov Academy (MKA Gym): Unique Olympic wrestling-based institute

Looking for a unique way to help your child build confidence, strength and real-world self‑defence skills? MKA, Singapore’s first Olympic wrestling–based performance institute, should be on your radar. The classes here are led by Artem Kotov, an Olympic-level athlete and coach. The academy’s curriculum enhances performance across various disciplines–Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Judo and other martial arts–through tailored training for adults, teens and children aged 4 and up. The institute also offers wrestling‑based self‑defence classes focused on balance, leverage and situational awareness, designed to be practical and accessible for all skill levels.

Classes here are designed for all ages and skill levels–from beginners to competing athletes–and combine elite grappling with strength, mobility and mental skills training. Beyond fitness and technique, MKA also nurtures discipline, focus and confidence, ensuring each child grows into a well-rounded athlete. MKA is also looking into developing a student-athlete pathway as a future project, aimed at supporting athletes who aspire to pursue university opportunities in the United States. This long-term initiative will combine athletic development, academic guidance, scholarship navigation and competition exposure to prepare students for potential NCAA Division I, II and III pathways.

Flash this article to enjoy a free trial lesson at MKA Gym!

Deets: MKA Gym, 10B Jalan Ampas, Singapore 329512, www.mkagym.com

CHAGEE Suntec City: First family-friendly cafe

Enjoying bubble tea with the family just got a lot more fun! CHAGEE’s latest outlet at Suntec City is its first family-friendly store, perfect for satisfying those bubble tea cravings with the kiddos in tow. Look forward to a play area, a motion-sensor interactive play zone, child-friendly furniture and more. Best of all? Kids get to enjoy complimentary milk tea on the house! More information here.

Deets: CHAGEE Suntec City. 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-308, Singapore 038983, www.instagram.com/chagee.sg

Light To Night Festival 2026: Interactive light installations

2026 kicks off with one of Singapore’s largest night events: The Light to Night Festival! Takes place from 9 January, look forward to interactive art installations, projection mapping light shows, roving performances and more. The National Gallery and Civic District will light up for this festival, accompanied by the theme ‘The Power In Us’. Plus, entry is free! More information here.

Deets: 9 to 31 January 2026, various locations around the Civic District, www.nationalgallery.sg

Jolly Jungle Safari: New jungle-themed indoor playground in Yishun

Jolly Jungle Safari is a new safari-themed indoor playground at SAFRA Yishun, spanning a massive 7,000 square feet of playspace! There’s plenty of jungle-themed fun to keep the kids busy. From conquering the high-element obstacle course (yes, there’s a flying fox!) and zooming down a thrilling 10-metre slide to digging around in the ball and sand pits. Little ones can even put their coordination skills to the test at the Mario-themed obstacle course!

Deets: 11 December 2025 – 12 April 2026, 10am – 9pm, Floral Fantasy, Gardens by the Bay, www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

Play! Pickle Serangoon: New pink-themed pickleball facility

If you’re looking for a reason to finally get into pickleball (if you haven’t already!), this new court in Serangoon might just be the push you need. This all-pink facility comes with five fully air-conditioned pickleball courts. Think pink lines, pink rackets, pink balls and even pink seating areas. There’s music to keep the energy up during your session, plus weekly lifestyle events to look forward to!

Deets: Play! Pickle Serangoon, 756 Upper Serangoon Rd, #04-27, Singapore 534626, www.playpickle.sg

T5 In The Making: New aviation-themed exhibition at Changi Airport

In case you missed it, Changi Airport will be welcoming a new terminal in the mid-2030s! While that’s a long way to go, excitement is already brewing because the new ‘T5 In The Making’ exhibit at Terminal 3 showcases what you can look forward to and more. There will be five experiential zones, including an AI-powered interactive mural, robot displays, scale models, and more, promising plenty of fun for families.

Deets: 6 January – March 2026, Changi Airport Terminal 3 Arrival Hall, www.changiairport.com

The Gundam Base: Singapore’s first Gundam flagship store

Following its successful 10-day pop-up in August, Gundam fans have reason to celebrate because Jewel Changi Airport will soon be home to Singapore’s first Gundam flagship store, opening in early 2026! Since its debut in 1979, the long-running Japanese sci-fi franchise has amassed a devoted fanbase, and now fans can explore a permanent store stocked with merchandise, collectibles and more. There will even be Singapore-exclusive releases! The exact opening date is yet to be announced, so keep your eyes peeled!

Deets: The Gundam Base, Jewel Changi Airport